managing a chatty employee when you need shorter answers by Alison Green on January 29, 2013 A reader writes: I have a question about how to handle an employee who I now oversee. This person has been with the company for 15 years and is very nice, but also very defensive. She is also a talker. If I ask her a question about something work-related, which I need to do several […] Read the full article →
can a prospective employer tip off my boss that I’m job-searching? by Alison Green on January 29, 2013 A reader writes: If a person sends their resume to a company that is accepting applications, can the receiving HR department and/or the hiring manager tell one of their employees that “so-and-so sent us their resume, and your mother works where they currently work, do you know them?” Or can they even ask their employee […] Read the full article →
how long should you wait on a conference call when no one else has joined? by Alison Green on January 28, 2013 A reader writes: As I sit here on hold for a conference call that was scheduled to begin 10 minutes ago, I wonder if there is a generally accepted practice around how long to wait in these situations. 10 minutes? 15? Does it depend on the people involved? The scheduled length of the meeting? I […] Read the full article →
I’d be the only woman at a team-building event at my boss’s remote lake house by Alison Green on January 28, 2013 A reader writes: I’m new to my current job. I like my manager. He seems like a decent enough guy. My team consists of him and 3 other guys (I’m a woman). He has scheduled our first one-day team-building off-site meeting to be at his “lake house.” I really don’t like the sound of it, […] Read the full article →
10 phrases that don’t belong in your cover letter by Alison Green on January 28, 2013 Think your cover letter is perfectly crafted? Check to make sure you’re not including any of these no-no’s in it. 1. “I meet the requirements for the position.” Hundreds of candidates will meet the requirements for the position. That’s not enough to get you a second look. You want to explain why you’re an excellent […] Read the full article →
does my new job expect me to wear expensive designer clothes? by Alison Green on January 28, 2013 A reader writes: After 6 months of job searching, three offers, and two, yes two, offers falling through, I have finally secured a job: was given an offer, accepted the offer, new hire paperwork, background checks, and start date set. The position is a senior admin role for my department in a high-profile fundraising foundation […] Read the full article →
short answer Sunday — 6 short answers to 6 short questions by Alison Green on January 27, 2013 It’s short answer Sunday — six short answers to six short questions. Here we go… 1. A former employee left large furniture in our office One of our employees left three months ago and left a piece of large furniture in our office. We need to get rid of it, but based on my experience […] Read the full article →
did I blow this written test in a job interview? by Alison Green on January 27, 2013 A reader writes: I just had an interview today that involved a written test. The employer is a law firm and I was intertviewing for a legal assistant position. I was informed I would interview with 2 current paralegals and then take a written exam. I was given no information as to what the exam […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on January 26, 2013 It’s short answer Saturday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Can coworker stop me from using a heat rub for a sports injury? I seriously hurt my thigh muscles after a workout and was struggling to walk at times, so I was applying Deep Heat to the muscles to […] Read the full article →
my coworker calls me rude when I’m simply being direct by Alison Green on January 25, 2013 A reader writes: About a month ago, I wrote to you about a coworker of mine who would ask me questions and then turn around and ask another colleague the same exact question. After I wrote you, this coworker stopped with that weird habit, but now she’s rubbing me the wrong way for a different […] Read the full article →